Rhodesian Threat Of Rail Strike

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 13

Rhodesian Threat Of Rail Strike

(Ree. 11.30 p.m.) BULAWAYO (Southern Rhodesia), July 28. The rioting and looting in Bulawayo are over; but now a new threat faces the city—the possibility of a strike tomorrow by 5000 African railwaymen who say they are dissatisfied with a recent pay award.

Bulawayo is the main rail centre of the Central African Federation and the junction for services to Northern Rhodesia and South Africa. A strike might paralyse the entire 1300 miles of rail network from the South African border to the Congo, reported British United Press. Many of the African railwaymen advocating strike action are the same type of young men who were behind the Bulawayo riots, according to the agency. Meanwhile peace seems to have been restored to the African townships. The troops have been withdrawn but are standing by. The riot death roll is now known to be 13—all Africans. Meanwhile, the Government action of arresting African leaders. which set off the riots, is being strongly criticised in Rhodesia. Many people felt the move was asking for trouble. The prestige of the Prime Minister (Sir Edgar Whitehead) has suffered a severe blow, observers said. Kenya Warning Mr Tom Mboya. the Kenya African leader, today criticised Britain tor the decision to Mend 600 more troops to the colony. He told a press conference in New York he was convinced no situation had developed during his four days’ absence from Kenya to make it urgent for the British Government to send in troops.

“1 feel very strongly that it is inadvisable to send troops,” he said. “I consider it will create a psychological situation in which the reaction of our people will be one of loss of confidence and perhaps, in some cases, lack of co-operation with the British Government.” Mr Mboya, who has been on a brief visit to America to discuss an American universities educational •rogramme for East Africans, also asserted that Kenya should attain independence from Britain “by next year at the latest” He said this was a principal plank of his Kenya African National Union Party, and “we do not believe that this is an extravagant demand.” Mr Mboya also praised Jomo Kenyatta, saying that he remained “the most popular of African leaders in Kenya.” On the Congo situation, Mr Mboya said European settlers in Kenya were trying to exploit this to delay constitutional changes in the country. “This is a very false position to take.” he said. “It does not help the situation at all “We say that the situation in the Congo proves once and for all the bankruptcy, not only of Belgian colonial policy, but of colonialism anywhere and shows very clearly what can happen when one power seeks to adopt a policy of paternalism.”